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Alpe Veglia and Alpe Devero Natural Park is in Val d’Ossola, in the province of Verbano Cusio Ossola. It covers 21.236 acres, from 5.249 ft to 11.656 ft above sea level.
It was established in 1995, bringing together Alpe Veglia Natural Park, the first Regional Natural Park created in 1978 in the Lepontine Alps, and Alpe Devero Natural Park, established in 1990 to protect the alpine environment of Val d’Ossola.
Since 1995, this new reserve has been acknowledged as Site of Community Interest (SIC), while the Veglia and Devero Alps have also been classified as such, since 2000.

Wedged between Valais and Ossola, this park has been a most convenient commercial route for goods and commodities since ancient times. Furthermore, since the Middle Ages, the pastures of the two mountains have been intensely exploited by the locals, who have profoundly changed the natural landscape over the centuries; in fact, they have created canals and ditches reclaiming the marshy areas, as well as limited the undergrowth of blueberries and rhododendrons to increase the arable area and build their own settlements.
Tourist interest in these places originated towards the end of the XIX century, encouraged by alpine explorations and the discovery of a source of ferruginous mineral water on Alpe Veglia. The first hotels were thus built and the number of tourists continued to increase; most luckily, the natural beauty of these valleys has always been thoroughly preserved, also thanks to the creation of protected areas.

Alpe Veglia is a large basin mainly formed by alluvial deposits surrounded by morainic accumulations; it is considered the richest mineralogical district in the Western Alps, and it also features lakes, streams, waterfalls, dolomite and limestone outcrops. Of great importance are the archaeological findings from the plain, dating back to the Mesolithic period (about 9.000 years ago).

Alpe Devero is among the most beautiful in Ossola: a plateau enlivened by large waterfalls, vast larch forests (Larix decidua), expanses of rhododendrons (Rhododendron spp.) and blueberries (Vaccinium myrtillus), as well as wetlands rich in flora and fauna.
Mixed with larch trees, there are many are alders (Alnus spp.), willows (Salix spp.), rowans (Sorbus spp.) and Norway spruces ( Picea abies), quite rare in this area.

During the summer, the park offers many trails and several climbing opportunities; in winter, on the other hand, visitors can take advantage of the ski lifts on Mount Cazzola, cross-country ski trails and nature walks with alpine skis and snowshoes.

Flora and fauna

The vegetation features the presence of pastures and, up to about 7.217 ft above sea level, large forests of Larix decidua, alders (Alnus spp.), willows (Salix spp.), rowans (Sorbus spp ) and Norway spruce (Picea abies).
In the undergrowth, there are abundant formations of rhododendron (Rhododendron spp.) and blueberry (Vaccinium myrtillus).

About 320 botanical species have been identified in the park, 22% of which are quite rare, such as gentian (Gentiana brachyphylla), milkvetch (Astragalus leontinus), and Kobrenia simpliciscula.
The fauna is also very rich: among the mammals, there are many the chamois, marmots, and mountain hares; birds species include golden eagles and black grouses, dating back to the Mesolithic period (about 9.000 years ago).

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)